T.J. Hamilton | The Grand Rapids PressRick DeVos talks about the new format of the 5x5 competition Tuesday night at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

GRAND RAPIDS — At some point this year, Rick DeVos realized the collective attention which ideas received at his 5x5 Night competition was pushing development along faster in some cases than the $5,000 grant money the judges doled out each month.

“Just the act of sharing the idea with a large group can create new opportunities and give someone a chance to put their idea to work,” said DeVos in announcing the next evolution of 5x5 Night on Tuesday at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, where Steve Frazee’s Cleaning with Kindness pitch won.

The new twist: ideas submitted online will be posted immediately for the public to view and vote upon. Whereas Pomegranate Studios staff used to decide which ideas had the most merit, and therefore a shot at the grant money, now the crowd gets that honor.

It’s a page out of the ArtPrize playbook, but the judges will still decide who gets the $5,000 at the presentations each month, which are not deviating from the five ideas, five minutes, five slides format. The change is meant to put idea sharing “on steroids,” DeVos said.

“You want to submit your idea early and spread the word far and wide,” said DeVos. Voters must register and they can only vote once apiece for five ideas.

And in case someone is worried about their idea being stolen, DeVos dismissed the concern by saying anyone truly worried about a company stealing an idea should go to that company, try to pitch it to the CEO, and see how far they get.

“The truth is, only you know exactly how your idea can become successful,” he said.

“If you can’t move your idea forward all by yourself, then you have to share it with other people for it to go anywhere.”

The new format was launched on Tuesday night. Submissions for the next session are being accepted until Nov. 22 at noon. The next 5x5 Night is Nov. 29 at the art museum.